Italy bounced back after losing their first match of the weekend against France at home

Catania, Italy, June 18, 2011 - Italy scored an exciting 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 25-17) win over France in their 2011 FIVB Volleyball World League Pool D match in Catania in front of 4,500 fans in PalaCataniaon Saturday evening to take revenge over their Friday night loss and maintain pole position in Pool D.

The first set started as a point by point affair until the TTO with Italy ahead 8-7 thanks to two great block of Buti. It was the hosts defence which kept them ahead before a decisive spike from Gabriele Maruotti saw them take the lead.

France came back stronger in the beginning of the second set and went ahead 10-6. But Italy sprinted back into contention with a number of devastating attacks. However France captain Nicolas Marechal rallied his team and sealed the set at 25-18 to draw the scores level.

France again took an early lead in the third set as Italy made a few mistakes in attack. But thanks to the block of Lasko the hosts took a lead at 19-17 before close at 25-22.

Italy began the fourth set in a more aggressive way to take a four point lead, adamant that they would come away with another win. But the team of Mauro Berruto put France under pressure with a good serves and attack from wing spiker Lasko and Maruotti and took a lead at 13-11 and 18-16 before close the match 25-17 thanks to a spike and a serve from the monumental Lasko.

Next week Italy host Korea in Trieste and Padova while France host Cuba in Paris and Montèbiard.